Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Carmelle Lacuata

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court on Thursday explained that it had to cut some parts of the direct broadcast of the confirmation of charges hearing of Rodrigo Duterte due to redactions applied by the prosecution.</p><p>Presiding judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc made the statement before the third session, where she explained that redactions were made to the transcript of the proceedings as well as the direct broadcast of the hearing due to the defense disclosing information that may identify the victims and witnesses in the case.</p><p>She also said that the redactions had to be done to protect the victims and the witnesses, and to prevent the hearings from being held in closed session.</p><p>“The Chamber wishes to recall an earlier ruling during which the Chamber stressed that it is up to the parties and participants to ensure that their submissions are worded in such a way as to avoid going into closed session, thus ensuring the transparency of the proceedings and to avoid the disclosure of confidential information, the Chamber would remind the parties to comply with these instructions,” she said.</p><p>“Furthermore, the Chamber is of the view that the information that was asked to be redacted, also from the direct broadcast today was limited to identifying information of witnesses and victims mentioned during the submissions. The Defense disclosed information on several ocassions that allowed for the identification of victims and witnesses. For example, positions held and nicknames, things that must not be disclosed so as to ensure the protection of witnesses and victims,” Motoc added.</p><p>“This was the appropriate recourse to implement the Chamber’s duty to protect the safety and wellbeing, including psychological wellbeing, the dignity and privacy of victims and witnesses in accordance with Article 68 of the Rome Statute with having to hold the hearing in private or closed session,” she also said.</p><p>The defense was likewise reminded to be careful in disclosing information that may identify the victims and witnesses.</p><p>“Thus the Chamber has decided to maintain the redactions that were applied earlier and reminds the Defense not to disclose information that may not be necessary and information that could identify victims and witnesses, and in accordance with Article 8 of the Code of Conduct for Counsel,” Motoc said.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Io8Lmf8_Izw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>It was the defense’s turn to submit the merits of their case on the third day of the confirmation of charges hearing at The Hague.</p><p>Nicholas Kaufman questioned the credibility of the witnesses tapped by the Prosecution, saying they were chosen to target Duterte.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/26/duterte-lawyer-questions-credibility-of-prosecution-s-self-confessed-witnesses-2322">Duterte lawyer questions credibility of prosecution&#x27;s ‘self-confessed’ witnesses</a></div><p>The defense also addressed points raised by the Prosecution, including the existence of a so-called common plan to eliminate and “neutralize” personalities involved in the illegal drugs trade.</p><p>In an earlier session, Kaufman argued that “neutralization” in the Duterte administration’s “war on drugs” only meant subduing suspects, contrary to the Prosecution’s “insider witness” claim that it meant to “kill”.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/24/icc-prosecution-victims-counsels-submit-merits-on-day-2-of-duterte-pre-trial-1657">ICC prosecutor cites &#x27;insider witness,&#x27; says &#x27;neutralize&#x27; on Dela Rosa&#x27;s 2016 PNP memo meant to &#x27;kill&#x27;</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/26/kaufman-neutralize-in-duterte-drug-war-only-meant-arrest-and-subdue-2006">Kaufman: &#x27;Neutralize&#x27; in Duterte &#x27;drug war&#x27; only meant arrest and subdue</a></div><p>The defense likewise argued that Duterte did not give any direct order to kill the victims of his drug war, reiterating that the speeches and public statements cited by the prosecution are considered “hyperbole” and “bluster”.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/26/defense-argues-no-direct-order-from-duterte-to-kill-victims-no-direct-line-to-co-perpetrators-1944">Defense argues no direct order from Duterte to kill victims, no direct line to &#x27;co-perpetrators&#x27;</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/24/duterte-drew-up-death-lists-boasted-about-murders-icc-prosecutor-1942">Duterte drew up &#x27;death lists&#x27;, boasted about murders: ICC prosecutor</a></div><p>It also argued that the Prosecution also failed to prove that the “war on drugs” targeted the entire Filipino population, thus making it a crime against humanity.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/26/kaufman-icc-prosecution-failed-to-show-alleged-ejks-targeted-entire-filipino-population-1950">Kaufman: ICC prosecution failed to show alleged EJKs targeted entire Filipino population</a></div><p>The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I earlier found reasonable grounds to believe that Duterte is individually responsible as an &quot;indirect co-perpetrator&quot; for the crime against humanity of murder, allegedly committed in the Philippines during his drug war November 2011 and March 2019.</p>

<p>The Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court on Thursday explained that it had to cut some parts of the direct broadcast of the confirmation of charges hearing of Rodrigo Duterte due to redactions applied by the prosecution.</p>

The Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court on Thursday explained that it had to cut some parts of the direct broadcast of the confirmation of charges hearing of Rodrigo Duterte due to redactions applied by the prosecution.

ICC: Duterte hearing stream had missing parts due to redactions on identifying information

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ICC: Duterte hearing stream had missing parts due to redactions on identifying information

Rose Carmelle Lacuata,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 27, 2026 01:26 AM PHT

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Rodrigo Duterte

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International Criminal Court

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